The movie-famous Thai beach has been closed indefinitely - it's about time, it's chaos

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“Have you been to where they filmed The Beach yet?” It’s one of the first questions you’re met with upon arrival at the Thai island of Koh Phi Phi.

Famous for its starring role in Danny Boyle’s 2000 film featuring Leonardo Di Caprio, Maya Bay went from practically deserted in 1999 to a tourist magnet attracting in excess of 200 boats and 5,000 visitors a day - this on a shoreline only 800-ft long and 50-ft deep.

Today authorities in Thailand announced the closure of Maya Bay indefinitely, extending a four-month tourism ban that came into effect in June to at least a year and potentially longer. The move is in response to the untold damage caused by these boatloads of tourists.

The bay has lost...

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